Matt Mays is still a few weeks away from releasing Twice Upon A Hell Of A Time…, the acoustic re-dux to his 2017 release Once Upon A Hell Of A Time…, and even though we’ve technically heard it all before, he’s not above teasing out the singles. Mays’ latest and second release from the album is the Electric Light Orchestra-inspired “Drive On,” though we assume he means more “Livin’ Thing” than “Strange Magic.”
While romanticizing the transient nature of life on the road with”Drive On,” Mays is perhaps channeling an even a deeper rooted fear of commitment, given his reference to diamond rings. But then again, if you’re not somewhat attached to the lifestyle, what’s the point of being a rockstar?
“I’m a big ELO fan and I always wanted ELO to do more of a twangier, country record. It’s been my ultimate fantasy. I knew that was never going to happen, so I kinda tried to do an ELO type twangier tune about driving away from your problems and peacing out,” says Mays. “Plus, a friend of mine always makes fun of me saying that all of my songs are the same three chords over and over…E-minor, C, and G. So, I wrote this one for him, which is E-minor, C, and G, mostly just to piss him off.”
Mays describes Twice Upon A Hell Of A Time… as a “party-rock record for the brokenhearted.” Originally destined to be a completely stripped down solo session, Mays doubled back to incorporate extra vocals and instrumentation, including musicians Aaron Goldstein (Daniel Romano, Lee Harvey Osmond) on pedal steel, Anthony Carone (Arkells) on piano, and guest singers Andrew Rodriguez, Kate Dyke, and Melissa Payne. It’s not so far that the album has become an intimate soul-baring of songwriter and his guitar, but it possesses all the curiosities of a collection of alternate takes with all the polish.
Twice Upon a Hell of a Time… is due out October 19 via Sonic Records/Warner Music.